Page 802 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

68 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE

camels was secured by Snud. Another force employod during the same
operation, however, received a considerable sot-back.
In the third caso of Koweifc, there was fighting at Safah and Jalirah whore
the Akhwan undor Eaisal-ad-Dawish had some initial success, but eventually
lost heavily and retired on being warned by Government by means of a com-
muniqud dropped from an aeroplano that any attack or advauco on Xoweit
would be opposed by British forces. The dispute was then submitted to Gov­
ernment for arbitration and the High Commissioner invited Bin Saud to moet
Sheikh Salim at Basrah, but Bin Saud could not como owing to ill-health, so
the question had to stand over till a moro favourable opportunity should
occur.
Ono of Bin Saud’s requests mado during the year was for a permanent
doctor for Riyadh where there is none except an Arab of Mosul by name
Abdullah Effendi who came out from Constantinople a few years ago but is not
regarded as an efficient medical man. Attempts were mado through the Civil
Commissioner, Baghdad, to send a suitable Muslim doctor but none could be
found and Bin Saud bad to content himself with the American Mission doctorls
visit. The latter though much resorted to for medical assistance had con­
tinually to run the gauntlet of unpleasant epithets such as “ Kafir,” etc., and
a frequent show of discourtesy from the mass of the Akhwan, so that the post
for a permanant doctor would be no sinecure.
Bin Saud has expressed a desire to improve the port of Ojair by building a
wharf aud a beacon and to arrange for fortnightly calls of the British India
Steam Navigation Company’s steamers in order to faciliate the import of goods
from India direct, as at present Hassa and Nejd dopend for their imports on
Bahrain and Koweit. It remains to be decided, after a survey as to which of
the ports of Ojair, Juball and Qatif is the more suitable for cargo steamers to
visit. The approaches to these ports are very shallow so that even small craft
have to lie off 7 or 8 miles.
Bin Saud has been granted a special aid or gift of .£5,000 and the insignia
of G.C.I.E., as a token of His Majesty’s Government’s appreciation of his
friendship and loyalty.
VI.—Epidemic and Quarantine.
Dr. G. K. Monani, Medical Officer, Victoria Memorial Hospital, has
carried on the duties of the Quarantine Medical Officer throughout the year.
In December 1920 His Excellency the Sheikh engaged Dr. Maulvi Abdur
Razzaq Naqshbandi, L. M. & S., for the quarantine work but formal charge
was not taken by him till after the close of the year.
The Islands remained free from epidemic diseases of any kind. Epidemic
plague which used to recur every alternate year since 1907 has not made its
appearance for the last three years.

VII.—Hassa and Qatif.
The Hassa-Itiyadh trade route was completely safe throughout the year.
VIII.—Qatar.
Lieutenant-Colonel A. P. Trevor, C.S.I., C.I.E., visited Qatar on 29th
April. He was accompanied by Major Dickson, the Political Agent.
Colonel Trevor presented Sheikh Abdullah bin Jasim al-Thani with the
insignia of C.I.E., on the Durbar Deck of R.I.M.S. Lawrence II.
As Sheikh Abdullah left the ship the newly sanctioned salute of 7 guns
was fired.
IX.—Local Officials and Majlis-al-Urfi.
QarJ.—Sheikh Qasim bin Mchza has held the office of Sunni Qazi and has
decided a large number of cases sent to him during the year with justice and
despatch. He continues to enjoy the confidence of the people and regard of
Sheikh Isa.